Quote:
Originally Posted by Otto-matic
I'd actually start Smith against the Pens and see if he can carry this performance over. Give Ritter a couple games to reset and focus on the details a bit more.
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I'm 50/50 on the next start because
1. He's earned it
2. Up to this point in the season, Rittich had earned it
50% of me hopes that they stick to the schedule, and if Smith plays well again in his next start we shift closer to a 1A-1B situation
50% of me wants to see Smith rewarded for a solid game from start to finish
I worry about anointing Smith after one solid game though, and it comes at a time where I'm a little worried about Rittich as well. I also do mean one solid game, btw, as last night he showed a level of play that I didn't think he could come back to. All the prior 'solid games' were in light of what our new expectations were of him, and I think the 60-min effort he put in last night puts any good he's done this season to shame. I'd love to turn the page on his terrible start, but I worry (as I worried after his good start in Detroit) that the next game being less than stellar just puts us back to where we started, while still worrying about Rittich.
I think the best next step for everyone's psyche is for Rittich to play the Penguins tomorrow, and hopefully get his own swagger back. Smith plays the Coyotes on Monday and you can write the upcoming goalie schedule once the dust has settled there.
We face the Islanders twice there too, so I think teams will want to try and get the same goalie in both games. Works out pretty well as a 1A-1B situation, where you consider Rittich your 1A and start Smith against the Ducks and Senators between Islanders games.